A Whole New World by Liz Braswell

What would happen if in Disney’s Aladdin, Jafar got the magic lamp and summoned the Genie first? How would the story unfold? A Whole New World answers these questions by telling the story from this perspective. Upon summoning the Genie, Jafar’s first wish is to be the sultan of Agrabah, and his second is to be the most powerful sorcerer in the world. His third wish, yet to be seen. As his rule grows stronger and more terrifying, it is up to Aladdin and the deposed princess Jasmine to unite the people of Agrabah in a rebellion, and take back their kingdom.

A Whole New World is the first book in the new YA series, Twisted Tales. It takes classic Disney stories and changes one key element, altering the narrative and sending it in a completely different direction. I love the idea of this and find it really interesting to take a different route and explore how the story develops. This is definitely a darker version and it does not have the light-hearted feel of the movie, although there are some lighter moments. Unfortunately, it does read like a movie and does not explore or create more depth of character, which a book provides an opportunity to do. So while it was an interesting take, it does not have the ingredients that would allow me to truly connect with the material. I do feel this is a series with a lot of promise and look forward to the next instalment.